iron carbide

7.2

A hard, brittle substance found in steel and cast iron

noun
/ˈaɪərn ˈkɑːrbaɪd/

Specialized

: carburo de hierro

During cooling, iron carbide separates out as a hard phase.

Examples

Modern steels contain controlled amounts of iron carbide to achieve desired properties.
Researchers studied the formation of iron carbide in tempered steel.
The presence of iron carbide affects the hardness of steel.
Many manufacturers use iron carbides in their production processes.
The addition of iron carbide significantly increases the hardness of the steel used in construction.
Engineers prefer tools with iron carbide components for their strength and longevity.
To improve wear resistance, many manufacturers use iron carbide in their metal products.

Synonyms

cementite

vsiron carbide

Specialized

9.9

A hard, brittle substance of iron and carbon in steel and cast iron that makes them break more easily

is the same compound but named as a constituent without noting effects on hardness

Surface Forms

iron carbide singular

iron carbides plural

Morphology

iron + carbide

The term denotes a compound formed from its parts: 'iron' (the metal) + 'carbide' (a carbon compound), so the meaning 'a carbon-containing compound of iron (Fe₃C)' is directly compositional. This follows regular chemical naming patterns found cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Iron carbide gets its name from its parts iron and carbide, where 'carbide' means a substance made with 'carbon'. Imagine tiny stone-like bits of carbon forming inside iron. These hard bits make the metal very hard but also able to break, so the name helps you remember it as the hard, carbon-rich part of steel.